Oh, Oh, Oprah -- Our "Experience"

Me at the Oprah Store
in front of Harpo Studios

I made it to Chicago and saw Oprah!  I was lucky enough to share the experience with my BFF and another dear friend.  It was great.  The show's content was not very desirable (to me) in that it was "supermodel legends."  It could have been on restoring automobiles and I would have been more interested.  But on a stage of supermodels, Oprah still shines.  I'm not sure how she did it, but she managed to somewhat salvage a very shallow, un-Oprah-like, interview.

No great giveaway, nothing but a box of Kleenex under my seat (I checked).  But quite honestly, to me it was special enough to be able share this with my friends.  After all is said and done I think I got just as much joy sharing the experience with them, as I did getting selected for tickets!   I'm so thankful to Theresa the audience coordinator that gave me the extra tickets for Beth and Melanie.  The whole thing seemed surreal.  When I finally entered the studio, I felt like I was going to explode!  When Oprah came out I was literally holding my head to keep my brains from busting out of my skull!

The best part was Oprah sticking around after the show to just talk to us.  She started chatting by graciously thanking all of us for being there.  It was very touching and personal.  It was an awesome experience.  I wish I had the courage to stand up and ask Oprah a question, because of course I had a million of them when I left, but I didn't.  I just knew I would be floundering with my jaw on the ground.  She had pictures taken with almost all who asked questions.  I think I would have died. 

After the show we stopped by the Oprah Store across the street. It was chock full of all the usual trinkets and a few unique items.  I did get a nice "farewell season" tee and purchased a fund raiser bracelet for women (mothers and children) in Rwanda who are HIV positive get the medications they need.  I am sort of regretting not getting a pair of Oprah's shoes, from "Oprah's Closet" -- it would be cool to see how it feels to walk in her shoes.  Yeah, I couldn't resist. 

We tried a couple unique eateries.  On the first day, we ate at "The Purple Pig"  I love their tag line...  "Cheese, Swine and Wine"  Cheese?  Wine?  Meat?  How can you go wrong?  They serve small dishes that are meant to be shared.  The service was outstanding and the food fabulous.  Admittedly we were a little scared, but our lovely server, who was a dead-ringer for Anne Hathaway, helped us through.  We really enjoyed ourselves and afterward did a little shopping. :)

After Oprah, we at at "Market" -- right around the corner from Harpo Studios.  Macaroni and Cheese Muffins?  Yes, it's true. 

Later on in the week, after the storm, we and I found a place called "Hay Market Brewery" tavern/cafe... and the only place open the day after the storm.  We had some great food there too!

Snow Angel "repeats"
How else do you get training in Chicago?

Add to all that being stuck in Chicago for their 3rd largest snow storm in history,  and it was quite the  getaway.   Our flights got canceled twice, but the third time was a charm.  Southwest was awesome with getting cancelation notices out timely and we were able to extend our stay at the hotel each night.  On Wednesday morning we were told that Oprah's staff didn't make it to their homes either; they stayed at our hotel and were at the bar while we were in bed!  Anyway, we made it home on Thursday morning safely.

While we were there, Mel and I did some exploring walking around in the knee-high snow.  It's quite a novelty for us, living in Houston.  I did get a treadmill run in... quite a good one too! We also did some some "snow-angel repeats" for speed work.  Hey, what else are you going to do for training in the Winter, in Chicago?